Vehicle-dashboard frame.



Patented Feb. n, 1902.

' P. J. TIMBERLAKE.

VEHICLE DASHBOARD FRAME.

(Application filed June 17, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2-Sheets-Sheet l.

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P. J. TIMBERLAKE.

VEHICLE DASHBOABD FRAME.

(Application led Juno 17, 1901.)

(No Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

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v fg, a@ ai g @2 qt f n n? l j i y @db 0 a o UNITED STATE-s 1 PATENT PAUL J. TIMBERLAKE, on JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-DASHBOARD FRAME;

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters/Patent N o, 692,946, dated February 11', 1902. Original application iiled November 17, 1900, Serial No. 36,834. Divided and this application filed .Tune 17, 1901. Serial To a/ZZ whom, it may con-cern:

Be it known that I, PAUL J. TIMBERLAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Dashboard Frames, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. l

This present invention relates to a device to be attached to the dashboards of vehicles, and which operates to strengthen and brace the same and also to provide a rein-holder; and it is, as to that form of the invention shown in Figures and 6, a division of my application for patent, Serial No. 36,834, filed November 17, 1900. f

In thejaccompanying drawings, Fig. l is an elevation of one form of my invention, it being here illustrated as seen when looking forward from the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4. is an elevation of another form of the invention. Fig. 5 is an elevation, and Fig. 6 is a top lplan'view of still another form of the invention. Figs. 7,18, and 9 are Views illustrating the several forms of the article shown, respectively, in Figs. 1,4, and 5, they being here illustrated detached and inthe condition in which they are manufactured as separate articles prior to their attachment to the dashes. Figs. lO and 1l illustrate modi- A cations.

In the drawings, A indicates the dashboard of abuggyorsimilarvehicle. Thisisformed, as is usual, with a surrounding lstiffened edge ct.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the attachment which constitutes the present invention is a complete article of manufacturel and is intended to be sold in condition ready for immediate attachment to the dashboard of a vehicle. It comprises the standards b and a cross bar orrail b". The standards b are provided with eyes b2, through which the rail is passed and in which it is secured by brazing or equivalent process. The rail extends across the top of the dash andlfroin side to side, and its end portions are preferably eX- tended downward along the side edges of the the parts of the dash-frame.

dashboard, constituting the vertical port-ions (No model.)

b3, which are adapted to serve as hand-rails l shown, operates to brace and strengthen the dash; but in order to further strengthen the dash I provide a supplemental cross-bar c, which is arranged parallel with'the cross-bar band is situated between it and the top of the dash,`the said supplemental bar being 'provided at their ends with balls or knobs c2,

which are for the purpose of improving the appearance of the article and also preventing the clothing from cat-ching upon the projecth ing ends of the said bar. v

As described in my aforesaid application, when the part-s of a dash-rail frame are constructed and arranged as described and as illustrated in the figures of the drawings hereof it serves not only to strengthen the dash,

(indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l) being passed between the cross-barl b and the end portion of the supplemental cross-bar c and thence between the bar c and the top of the dash. The reason for bending or turning the end c' of the bar rearward is to facilitate the entrance of the reins in position to be held by By arranging the'supplemeutal cross-bar c in the manner describedI provide two rein-holders, which are arranged near the outer edges or sides of the dash, in which position it is often desirable to support the rein as distinguished from supporting it at the center of the dash. It is, however, desirable under some circumstances to provide the dash-rail frame with "a reinholding attachment located near the center of the frame, andin Fig. 5 Vsuch an arrangement is shown. In this form, of myinvention the main cross-bar of the attachment is indicated by b and the supplemental stiffening but also constitutes a rein-holder, the rein which is relatively short and the ends of which extend in opposite directions and are free and bent or turned inward, as indicated at c', Fig.

6. As shown in Fig. 5, the bars b', e, and c constitute a rein-holding device situated at the center of the frame. Vhen the frame is thus constructed, lthe driver may use either the rein-holder situated over the center of the dash or a rein-holder situated over one or the other side or edge thereof, as he may-prefer.

In Fig.4 therepis shown `a form of vthe -invention diering somewhat from that illustrated in Fig. 5 in that there are two brackets d d connecting the cross-bars b and c, and eachof these brackets supports a third bar e2. In a construction like that shown in Fig. et the rein-holders formed by the parts e2 are not so near the center of the dash as in the construction shown'in Fig. 5. v

By referenceto Fig. l it will be seen that the rein is held between the free end of the supplemental cross-bar c and the top edge of the dash, the bar c being arranged so close thereto as to cause a sharp bend or bight to tical plane ofthe bar b.

be formed in the rein.

l/Vhile for convenience of manipulation it is desirable thatthe free ends of the supplemental bars which constitute parts of the rein-holdingfeature of the attachment should be bent or turned rearward, this is not essential, as may be seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 6, where the free ends c of the supplemental bar c are directly below or in the ver- When the parts are thus arranged, it is important that there should be a relativelylarge free oropen space opposite the end of the said barin order that the reins may be freely slipped over the end of the bar and into the spaces between `the parallel surfaces which operate to hold the rein. Such an open space is represented at g in Fig. 5. This space should be greater than the distance between the face of the bar v cA and the top edge of the dash-that is,Vthan the distance between those two parallel edges of the rein-holding attachment which grip l stitute the rein-holders may be different from .end of the frame and over the side or edge portion of the dash, substantially as set forth. 2. A vrail-frame fora vehicle-dash having a bracing-rail arranged to be attached to the dash at a distance therefrom and extending across its top, means for 4attaching the rail to the dash, and a supplemental bar connected withthe said rail and arranged to lie between it and the top of the dash, the ends of the said supplemental bar being free and arranged to constitute, in combination with the cross-rail, a rein-holder, substantially as set forth.

43. A rail-frame for a vehicle-dashhaving a bracing-rail arranged to extend across the top of a dash at a distance therefrom and having its ends extending downward to constitute substantially vertically disposed hand-rails, means for securing the said bar or rail to the dash, and a supplemental bar connected with ards and arranged to extend across the top of the dash, the ends of the crossbar being free, and another cross bar or rail b supported by the said standards above the cross-bar c, the ends of the said cross-bar b being continued around outside of the free ends of the bar c, the free `ends of the bar c being arranged to clamp and hold the rein, substantially as set forth.

5. A rail-frame fora vehicle-dash, comprising standards or brackets for attachment to the dash,a supplemental cross-bar c supported therein and having its ends free, a cross-bar b' supported adjacent to the bar c, and attachments at the free ends ofthe bar c and coperating therewith to constitute rein-holders, substantially as set forth.

6. A rail-frame for a vehicle-dash having a strengthening-rail extending across the top of the dash, means for attaching it to the dash, a supplemental cross-bar connected with the said strengthening cross-.barand arranged between it and the top of the dash, and the supplemental bar having free vends arranged to IOO IOS y IIO constitute rein holders at the sides of the frame, and a rein-holder attachment situated near the center of the frame, substantially as set forth.

7*. A rail-frame for a vehicle-dash having a strengthening-rail adapted to be attached to p the dash at a distance therefrom and extend- VIO ing across its top, means for attaching it to the dash, a supplemental bar substantially parallel With the said strengthening-bar, and havingits ends free and provided with enlarged attachments, the said free ends offthe bar and their attachments constituting, in combination with the strengtheningbar,hold ers for the reins, substantially as set forth.

8. In a rail-frame for a Vehicle-dash, the combination of brackets or standards b, a

PAUL J. TIMBERLAKE.l

Vitnesses:

N. CURTIS LAMMOND, A; WILLIAMsfJr. 

